Star Thunder forward Jalen Williams left the first half of Oklahoma City’s 105-101 road victory Wednesday over the Warriors with a right eye injury, according to Joel Lorenzi of The Oklahoman.

All NBA Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander struggled mightily without Williams. He shot just 5-of-16 from the floor in the second half.

Oklahoma city center Isaiah Hartenstein felt that the team’s overall approach to play should not have changed much, even with Williams’ late absence. Instead, when Gilgeous-Alexander’s shot didn’t fall, the team struggled to close down Golden State, blowing nearly its entire 19-point lead.

‘But that shouldn’t change the way we play’ Hartenstein said of Williams’ departure. “I don’t think we executed it the way we should have. … We shouldn’t have been in that situation.”

There’s more from the Northwest:

• The Gold nuggets have struggled to score in the “middle eight” of their first half — the final four minutes of the first quarter and the first four minutes of the second, notes Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. “We were talking about that the other day, about how I think there’s only one time in the first 16 games this season that we’ve won the last four minutes of the first quarter and the first four minutes of the second quarter.” head coach Michael Malone said. “Every other game (we lose) that eight-minute period, which usually coincides with Nikola (Jokic) be out. So there are a lot of nights where I think we’re off to a good start. That we’re actually playing well. And then we have that part, that four, six, eight minute part where the bottom falls out. … And the second half has been better for whatever reason.” According to Durando, Denver was ranked second overall in the second half ahead of their most recent matchup and at No. 29 in the first half.
• In addition to their attacking problems in the “middle eight” period of the first halves, the Gold nuggets also showed a deficit in defense at the beginning of this season, partly thanks to Aaron Gordon‘s long absence. During their 122-103 win Wednesday against the Jazz, the Nuggets certainly looked much better on that end of the floor as well, Durando wrote in another Denver Post story. Point guard Jamal Murray picked up opponents for all 94 feet. ‘Be more physical from the start of possession’ Murray said of his better defensive effort. “Not making it easy for them to get to their spot or place their screens where they want them to be. That kind of thing. So I think as a group it’s not just one or two guys, but everyone doing that (is important). And we had a good chat – I’m talking about this game. We’ve done a terrible job. But we did a better job today, shifting gears and talking, and even if there’s a mistake or a mistake, we have help with it.”
• After being named to the 2024 All-Defensive Second Team, Timber wolves forward Jaden McDaniels wants to reach the next level this season and aims to be named to the All-Defensive First Team in 2025, writes Andscape’s Marc J. Spears. He is currently in the first season of a five-year, $131 million contract extension he signed with Minnesota in the 2023 offseason. “That’s one of my goals, being (First Team),” McDaniels said. “Last season I was (second team). It’s a big goal. First team, we’ll take it step by step first. For me, I guard the best players. I don’t shut them down, but I do make it difficult for them. I make their (shooting) percentages lower.